Aigner Label Holder: The Solution to Warehouse Efficiency

Monday, March 28, 2011

The organization and labeling of material and locations in a warehouse is a vital function. The ultimate goal is to know where everything is – all of the time. That’s not always possible when label designations change or when human error is present. Clear plastic insertable Label Holders, with printable laser inserts are the most versatile solution for an efficient warehouse.

The “original” clear plastic insertable label holder was derived from C.R. Chamberlain’s 1950 patent for “HOL?DEX®”. This first insertable Label Holder was intended for file drawers and loose leaf binders. To change designation simply remark the insert and slip it into the holder. C.R. Chamberlain, president of the Cel-U-Dex Corporation (an office products company), was the author of a book entitled “Filing Facts”. The relationship between filing in an office and storing material in a warehouse is strikingly identical. The Label Holder diversified into many other markets: Libraries, Retail Display, Communications and then finally Warehouse Storage in the 1970’s. Today, Aigner Index, Inc, who purchased Cel-U-Dex Corp. in 1998, offers a full line of Insertable Label Holders distributed through all material handling and industrial supply distributors for industrial applications.

Depending upon the amount of label detail needed and the space available, size is the first concern when choosing a product. The frequency of label changes is also a significant factor, as it corresponds with choosing the best backing option: Permanent adhesive, Removable Adhesive, Hook & Loop fasteners, Magnetic or a custom Snap-on Extrusion. Help with this decision is always available through Aigner Index’s sales technicians or through your distributor.

Barcode labels must be protected. An unprotected bar code label can be damaged to the point of hopelessness by dust, dirt, grease, moisture or smudged label ink. It’s just a matter of time in a warehouse environment before an unprotected bar code label becomes useless. Then it either will not scan or, even worse, scans inaccurately (the wrong product…). This obviously causes serious shipping and inventory problems which not only creates internal problems, but will irritate or possibly cause the loss of a good customer. Aigner Insertable Label Holders solve this problem.

In today’s storage facilities, the old adage “A place for everything and everything in its place” is more applicable than ever. With today’s emphasis on error proofing, while still maintaining high throughput, an effective label holder system is critical. This starts with management establishing an identification system, and then supporting that system with solid procedures and top quality labeling hardware. Well run companies realize that misplaced or misidentified items can contribute to quality problems and shipping delays that ultimately cost the company money. A label holder system is an investment that pays dividends daily.

Cost justification is easy. Whatever the initial investment cost is for a labeling system, it rarely exceeds 5% of the total warehouse cost. This relatively small investment pays big returns in:

Mark Aigner, owner and president of Aigner Index, Inc. (The Label Holder Company), New Windsor, NY adds: "No other function in the warehouse contributes more towards overall efficiency and monetary savings than an effective labeling system.”